Road joint and filler bridge unit with asphalt lock



May 19, 1936. R. R. ROBERTSON ROAD JOINT AND FILLER BRIDGE. UNIT WITHASPHALT LOG K ZSheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 21, 1934 Bier? fi/Pafirr/kon.

May 19, 1936, R. R. ROBERTSON 2,041,210

ROAD JOINT AND FILLER BRIDGE UNIT WITH ASPHALT LOCK Filed Feb. 21, 19342 Sheets$heet 2 Patented may i, 193% RQAD .WNINT FllLlLlER BR GEWl'lilli ASPHALT LOCK Robert R. Robertson, Chicago, ill, assignor to The'llranslode Joint Company, Chicago, Ml...

a corporation of llllinois Application February 21, 1934, Serial No.W227i 20 Claims.

This invention relates to road joints and more particularly to a roadjoint filler bridge unit with an asphalt lock for use in combinationwith transload air expansion joints including a transload base and aremovable core on which the bridge supporting socket strips arereleasably supported during the pouring of concrete.

The present invention relates more particularly to an improved roadjoint filler bridge unit which is mounted in position to bridge acrossthe upper portion of an air expansion joint void to permit the grooveor. crack disposed above the bridge unit to be filled with a filling ofasphalt or the like which also serves as a lock between the bridge unitand the socket supports therefor.

It is an object of this invention to provide an expansion joint bridgeunit wherein socket units which are temporarily carried by a removablecore are left partially imbedded in opposite concrete sections of a roadto'provide a support for a bridge member which bridges the air gapbetween' the road sections and aifords a support for an asphalt fillingto fill the void above the bridge unit and serve as a locking meansbetween the end margins of the bridge member and the socket units.

It is also an object of this invention to provide an expansion jointvoid spanning unit including supporting sockets and a bridge memberwhich are locked together by means of an expansible filling material.

Another object of the invention is to provide an expansion jointmechanism wherein bridge supporting sockets are releasably carriedbetween removable core plates and a core cap to be partially imbedded inconcrete permitting removal of the core plates and the core cap to leavea void between sections allowing the void to be spanned by a bridgeunit'supported in'the sockets and interlocked therewith by means of afilling of an expansible material which closes the crackv between theroad sections and above the bridge member.

It is furthermore an object'of this invention to provide a transloadexpansion joint forming mechanism including core plates and a core capfor releasably clamping and temporarily holding adjustable socket unitsin place after the pouring of concrete when the core plates and core capare removed leavin the socket units in position to receive an expandiblebridge unit the ends of which are adapted to be interlocked with thesocket units by means of a filling of an expansible material which isdeposited to fill in the upper portion of the expansion space and jointhe upper portions ofthe concrete sections.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of an airexpansion joint including a transload base for supporting a removablecore unit including aligned core plates forming opposite sides of thecore unit together with strap plates positioned to overlap the abuttingmargins of the coreplates with said core unit being so formed that withthe aid of removable caps, socket units are temporarily supported inplace to be left partially imbedded in concrete sections of the roadwith the removal of the core forming members, whereby the socket membersare positioned to receive an expansible bridge unit spanning the spacebetween the concrete sections and forming a support for an expansiblefilling material to not only close the crack between the upper edges ofthe concrete sections but also act as a locking means for interlockingthe side margins of the bridge member with the bridge sup porting socketmembers.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an air expansionjoint bridging unit including sockets partially imbedded in oppositesections of a road and projecting into the expansion space between theroad sections to receive the side margins of an arched bridge forseparating the lower portion of the expansion space from the upperportion and also servin as a support for a plastic material which servesspace and acts as a locking means between the sockets and the sidemargins of the arched bridge. It is an important object of the inventiont provide an air expansion joint bridge unit consisting of side socketspartially imbedded in opposite sections of the concrete road andprojecting into the expansion space to receive the side margins of anarched bridge member provided with apertures which together withapertures provided in the socket members permit a filling of abituminous material to fill the space above the bridge member and flowinto the sockets to fill the apertures in the sockets and in the bridgemember thereby forming a lock between the sockets and the bridge memberto forml a closure for the upper portion of the expansion space whichwill adjust itself with the expansion and contraction of the roadsections.

Another important object of .the invention is the provision of animproved type of road joint which interflt one another and are lockedtocrack between the upper margins of the road secbridge supportingsockets embedded in concrete concrete sections of the road after theremoval tions.

Other and further important objects of this invention will be apparentfrom the disclosures in the specification and the accompanying drawings.

The invention (in a preferred form) is illustrated in the drawings andhereinafter more fully described.

n the drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of a concrete road having readjoint formers imbedded transversely in the road at spaced intervals withthe expansion joint including an improved road joint filler bridge unitwith asphalt lock embodying the principles of this invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of a load transmission airexpansion joint including removable core members for temporarilycarrying bridge supporting socket units in position for mounting inopposite sections of a concrete road.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary vertical side view of the load transmissionair expansion joint mechanism illustrated in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the archedbridge member interfitting with a fragmentary portion of one of thebridge member supporting sockets or channel units.

Figure 5 is an enlarged vertical detail section taken on line VV ofFigure 3 illustrating the expansion joint base unit, core members andprior to the removal of the core plates and caps to leave the base unitand the bridge supporting sockets in the concrete.

Figure 6 is an enlarged vertical detail section taken on line VI-VI ofFigure 3 illustrating in section the crack spanning strap plates andcaps for spanning the space between the abutting edges of core platesand caps.

Figure '7 is an enlarged fragmentary detailed section of the upperportion of the joint void showing the bridge supporting sockets orchannel members left partially imbedded in opposite of the core members,and furthermore showing by means of dotted line the open positions ofthe socket flanges to faci itate the insertion of a spanning bridgemember in position.

Figure 8 is a similar sectional view after the core unit has beenremoved leaving the socket or channel members partially imbedded in theconcrete sections to afford a support for the arched bridge member, andthe plastic filler material which not only fills the sockets but alsofills the apertures in the sockets and in the bridge member to afford alocking arrangement for holding the air expansion void closed at itsupper portion.

filling of plastic material to form a lock between v the bridge memberand the supporting sockets.

As shown on the drawings: The reference numeral I indicates a road'subgrade upon which the concrete upper or crown section of the road issupported. The crown portion of the road is formed with a longitudinalcenter joint 2 and with spaced transverse load transmission airexpansion joints 3' between which transverse contraction joints 4 arepositioned. The center joint and the expansion and contraction joints inthe upper portion of the concrete road divide the same into a pluralityof adjacently positioned concrete sections 5 which are permitted toexpand and contract with temperature changes. I

The present invention relates to an improved type of an air expansionjoint including in its construction an improved removable core unittogether with an improved bridge unit for spanning the expansion voidand supporting a filling of a bituminous or plastic material which alsoacts as a locking means between the bridge memher and the socket orchannel supports therefor.

The improved road joint former or load transmission joint mechanism ofthe present invention is adapted for use in a concrete construction forthe purpose of providing suitable expansion joints between differentsections of the construction and furthermore afford means in the form ofa base unit whereby adjacent sections of the construction areinterconnected by a shiftable anchoring unit in which the core formingplates are. temporarily supported for holding bridge supporting membersin place until after the pouring of concrete.

The base unit of the road joint former serves as a load transmissionmechanism between the adjacent sections of the concrete road and in thepresent showing comprises an elongated base member consisting of a solidbase plate 6 constructed of sheet metal or other suitable material. Thelongitudinal margins of the base plate 6 are bent upwardly and theninwardly toward one another to form oppositely positioned guide channelsI. The guide channels I of the base unit provide oppositely positionedguide grooves 8. The margins of the top plates of the guide channels 1are bent upwardly and are cut away to provide spaced upwardly projectingretaining flanges or fingers 9. The retaining flanges 9 on oppositesidesof the base unit are staggered with respect to one another. Theupwardly projecting retaining flanges 9 of the base unit are spacedapart as illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 to provide a longitudinal topopening in the base member of the device. The grooved or channel basemember is provided in a standard length of half of the width of the roadand as clearly illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 two base members,v areprovided in alignment to span the width of the road and the inner endsof the base members are disposed adjacent to one another with'the crackbetween the same closed as hereinafter more fully described by means ofclosure members which overlap the inner ends of the base members.

The load transmitting mechanism associated with the base unit consistsof a plurality of anchor shoes or holder sections which are movably orshiftably engaged in the base section and are arranged longitudinally inoffset or staggered relation with respect to one another. The anchorshoes or holders are of substantially identical construction and arearranged with the adjacent the anchor shoes is constructed of metal andcomprises an angle bar including a base flange I0 and an upright flangeor web ll integral with Said base flange. The upper portion of each ofatomic the upright flanges or webs l i is cut inwardly from each end toprovide the inclined edges l2 (Figure 3) and the material above the cutsis bent outwardly to provide a pair of anchoring blades or wings l3.

opposite side of the web flat as clearly illustrated in Figures and 6. I

The anchoring shoes are transversely shiftable or slidably mountedwithin the grooved base section with adjacent shoes reversed withrespect to one another, so that the anchoring blades or wings l3 projectoutwardly leaving the flat sides of the upright webs or flanges of theanchoring shoes facing inwardly. As clearly illustrated in Figure 2 theanchoring shoes are staggered with respect to one another so that theupright flanges spaces between the inner surfaces of the upright flangesII and the outer faces of the retaining flanges 9 of the base member.

The outermost anchoring shoe, in each of the base sections of thedevice, has connected therewith a closure means for closing the outerend of the void forming core unit and the outer end of the voidresulting from the removal of the core unit after the pouring ofconcrete which forms the upper or crown section of the road. The closuremeans for the core unit, is similar to that illustrated and described inmy copending application for patent for a Road joint mechanism with voidforming unit filed November 17, 1933, U. S. Serial No. 698,437, andcomprises a primary closure plate It (Figure 2) having'a flange portionwhich is rigidly secured on the flat side of the upright flange ll ofthe'outermost anchor shoe. The main closure plate l4 has slidable interfltting or telescoping engagement with a plate receiving pocket orsocket IS. The guide pocket I5 forms an auxiliary closure means having aportion thereof bent to project into the outer end of the void formingcore unit toact as a stop flange i6 as illustrated in dotted lines inFigure 2.

The void forming core unit comprises a pair of sheet metal plates I!which are deflected inwardly near their upper margins to provide seatsor shoulders l8 permitting the upper margins of the core plates to bepositioned closely together as clearly illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 toafford a closure cap support. The lower margins of the core plates llrest upon the top surfaces of the top plates of the base member betweenthe retaining flanges 9 and the inner flat faces of the upright flangesH of the anchor shoes as clearly illustrated in Figures 5 and 6. Bypositioning the retaining flanges 9 to the inside of the core plates I!said plates are properly held in spaced relation with respect to oneanother for the purpose of providing the required air gap or spacebeflected inwardly and has the margin thereof temporarily deflected intothe full line position illustrated in Figure '7 parallel to the back ofthe channel I9. The margin of the lower flange of the socket affords asupporting flange2i which The anchoring blades i3 project outwardly fromone side of the web ll leaving the after removal of the core unit isadapted to be deflected into the dotted line position of'Figure '7 toserve as a support and a guide flange for stantially parallel to theback of the socket i9 and parallel to the normal position of the guideflange 2| with which it coacts to form a mouth for a purpose hereinaftermore fully described. As clearly illustrated in'Figure 4 the top flange22 in the trough portion adjacent the mouth'flange or lip 23 is providedwith a row of spaced openings or apertures 24.

For the purpose of holding the chambered sockets temporarily in positionon opposite sides of the upper portion. of the core unit the deflectedportions of the lower flanges of the sockets are seated against theshoulders it of the core plates with the lip or mouth flanges 2| seatingagainst the outer surfaces of the upper margins of said core plates asclearly illustrated in Figures 5 and 6. A removable channel-shaped formor top cap 25 is engaged over the top margins of side of the mouthflanges or lips 23 of the sockets and therefore act as resilient holdingmeans for temporarily clamping the spring-like entrances or mouths ofthe sockets between the core plates and the removable capwith thechambered body portions of the sockets projecting outwardly in aconvenient position to be imbedded in the concrete forming the sectionsof a road.

As illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 a pair of the road joint forming baseunits each of a length of substantially the width of one-half of theroad are positioned upon the road subgrade I in alignment with oneanother to span the entire width of the road. The void forming unitssupported on the base sections are also provided in lengths edual to thewidth of one-half of the road so that the two complete units have theinner ends thereof either abutting one another or spaced a slightdistance apart as indicated in dotted lines in the middle portion ofFigures 2 and 3. For the purpose of closing the gap between the innerends of the two joint forming units a gap spanning or The flanges of theremovable form or top cap 25 are disposed tothe outclosing unit isengaged over the abutting ends of of which comprises a side plate 26 thelower end of which is deflected outwardly and curved downwardly toprovide a closure foot or shoe 21 which projects outwardly anddownwardly to have the outer end thereof rest on the subgrade as clearlyillustrated in Figure 6. The closure shoe 2'! serves to close the gapbetween the guide channels of the aligned base sections while thevertical plate 26 spans the gap between the aligned core units. upperend thereof is deflected outwardly to pro- A section of the closureplate 26 near the vide a channel section 28 shaped to fit around theabutting ends of the sockets It). The upper margins of each oftheclosure plates 26 project upwardly to seat against the outer side ofthe abutting ends of the top closure caps or forms 25. To hold the twoclosure plates 26 on opposite sides of the abutting ends of thercad'forming units a retaining hood or cap of substantially U-shapedcross section and designated by the reference numeral 29 is engaged overthe abutting ends of the closure caps 25 to close the gap therebetween.I

With the completed road joint forming unit in position upon the roadsubgrade to span the entire width of the road and with the gap formingclosure units engaged over the abutting inner ends of the aligned base,sections and core units of the device, concrete is poured upon thesubgrade on opposite sides of the'joint forming mechanism to imbed thevarious members thereof. The end closure mechanisms i4 and I5 at theouter ends of the form prevent concrete from entering into the chamberedcore units while the intermediate closure mechanisms spanning the innerabutting ends of the forms prevent concrete from entering through themiddle portion of the joint forming mechanism. After the con- .crete hasbeen allowed to set a desired amount,

the outer gap spanning closure cap or hood 29 is first removed from theupper margins of the side closure plates 26. With the removal of thehood 23 the upper closure caps or forms 25 of the twojoint forming unitsare removed from the upper portions of the concrete leaving the sideclosure plates 25 and the sockets l3'imbedded in moval of the coreclosure cap 25 and the core plates I! that the interfltting ortelescoping end closure plates or members I4 and I5 remain in positionwith the flanges ii of the closure members l5 projecting into the outerends of the expansion void 30.

After the removal of the respective caps and the core unit members thesocket members are left partially imbedded in the concrete road sections5 with the open mouthed portions of the socket units projecting into theair expansion void 30 as clearly illustrated in Figure 7. The guide andsupporting flanges 2| are now bent from the full line positions ofFigure 7 into the 'dotted line positions whereby opening of the mouthsof the socket units for the reception of the channel-shaped side margins3| of an arched closure cap or bridge member 32. The channelshapedmargins 3| of the bridge unit are provided with rowsof openings orapertures 33. The bridge unit may be provided in a length equal to theentire width of the road or if desired two lengths aligned with oneanother each length being of half of the'width of the road may be usedin which case the inner abutting ends of the bridge members may becovered byv a spanning strap .or crack closing arch member. The bridgemember 32 is engaged downwardly in the upper open end of the expansionvoid 33 with the apertured channel margins 3| thereof projected againstthe inwardly deflected guide flanges 2| of the side sockets which serveas-a guide means for guiding the apertured channeled margins 3i of thebridge member into the chambers provided within the supporting sockets13. It will thus be noted that the bridge members 32 span the spacebetween the supporting sockets l9 and divide the expansion space 30 intoa lower expansion chamber and an upper space provided above the bridgeunit and between the upper edges of the concrete sections 5. With thebridge unit supported in position by means of the chambered sockets a.filling of hot plastic material such as asphalt or the like is pouredinto the top space to form a compressible and expansible flller block 34The hot filling of plastic material 34 as it is poured into the uppercracks between the road sections is prevented from entering the lowerexpansion chamber due to the placing of the bridge members 32 so thatthe plastic material is guided into the supporting sockets l9 to fillthe same as clearly illustrated in Figure 8 and to also fill in theopenings and apertures 24 in the upper flanges of the socket members andthe openings 33 provided in the channel-shaped flanges of the bridgemembers 32. The plastic material thus deposited in the upper portion ofthe road joint acts as a locking means between the supporting pocketsand the bridge members. It will thus be noted that the plastic closurefor the upper -portion of the air expansion void of the road jointtogether with the socket members I9 and the bridge units 32 forms anexpansible and contractible closure between the upper portions of theroad sections 5 so that the expansible closure joint may be adjustedwith the expansion and contraction of the road sections due totemperature changes.

Figure 9 illustrates a modified form of expansion joint bridge closureunit for use in combination with the chambered supporting sockets 13.The modified form of bridge unit comprises two deflected strips 35constructed of a plastic material having a wire or metallic reinforcingfabric 36 imbedded therein. Two reinforced strips of fabric material 35are used and are positioned in inclined relation with respect to oneanother to converge at their upper margins to form an arched bridge unitwith the ridge of the arch closed by means of an expansible orspring-like arched metal closure cap or hood 31. The outer margins ofthe'spring-like cap or closure hood 3! may be slightly deflected ortoothed to engage into the plastic material forming the side strips orplates 35 of the bridge unit. In this form of construction after thebridge unit is engaged with the side margins thereof projecting into thesupporting sockets IS a plastic material such as asphalt in a hot stateis poured into the upper opening and passes into the supporting socketsl9 and through the holes 24 of the upper flanges of the socket members.The hot asphalt or plastic material which is poured into the upper crackand into the sockets combines with the plastic material of which thebridge strips 35 are formed to lock therewith and form a continuousexpansible and contractible closure unit for closing the space betweenadjacent road sections 5 and leaving an air expansion void 30 betweenthe road sections beneath the bridge unit.

The present invention embodies the provision of an improved airexpansion joint forming mechanism for roads including base sections andremovable core units with the core units having adjustable closure meansfor the ends of the expansion space connected therewith. The jointforming mechanism furthermore includes theanemic means between thebridge members and the bridge supporting sockets to form an expansibleand contractible closure unit for the upper portion of the joint.

It will, .of course, be understood that many details of construction maybe varied through awide range without departing from the principles ofthis invention and it is therefore not the purpose to limit the patentgranted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the scope of the appendedclaims.

I .claim as my invention:

1. A load transmission air expansion joint former comprising a basesection, anchor means transversely reciprocal in said base section, acore unit removably supported on the base section, flange members formedon the base section projecting upwardly into the core unit to hold thewalls' thereof properly spaced, chambered socket members temporarilycarried by the core unit, and cap means removably engaged on the coreunit for releasably holding the socket members on the sides of the coreunit.

2. A load transmission air expansion joint former comprising a basesection having spaced flanges integrally formed thereon and projectingupwardly therefrom, anchor means shiftably engaged in the base sectionbetween the base flanges,

core plates removably engaged between the base flanges and the backportion of the anchor means to hold the core plates properly spaced withrespect to one another, a closure cap remo ably engaged on the uppermargins of the core plates, and chambered sockets removably clamped onthe core plates by means of said removable cap.

3. A. load transmission air expansion joint former for embedding betweenconcrete sections and comprising a load transmission base unit,chambered sockets positioned thereabove, means supported on the baseunit for temporarily supporting the chambered sockets until the same arepartially imbedded in the concrete sections and are held in position bythe concrete sections permitting the supporting means to be removed toleave an air expansion void between the concrete sections and betweenthe base unit and the chambered sockets, an expansible and contractiblebridge unit bridging the air expansion void and projecting into thechambered sockets, and an expansible and contractible filling forlocking the chambered sockets and the bridge unit together and alsofilling the space between the concrete sections above the bridge unit.

4. A concrete construction joint former comprising a base unit, a coreunit removably supported thereon, and chambered socket membersreleasably carried by the core unit and releasable thereby when the coreunit is removed from a concrete construction.

5. An air expansion joint formed between adjacent concrete road slabsand comprising a load transmission base closing the bottom of a voidformed between said slabs, socket members partially imbedded in theconcrete on opposite sides removable from the concrete to leave a voidtherein, chambered sockets carried by the core unit and having openmouthed portions seated against the sides of the core unit, andretaining means releasably engaged over the core unit and said mouthportions for holding the chambered sockets temporarily associated withthe core unit.

7. A concrete road joint former comprising in combination a core. unit,releasable chambered members carried by the coreunit and having openmouthed portions, and cap means removably engaged on the core unit forreleasably hold-' ing the chambered members in place.'

8. A concrete road joint formed in concrete and comprising incombination a core unit temporarily embedded in the concrete and thenremoved from the concrete to leave a void therein, releasable chamberedmembers carried by the core unit and retainable by the concrete when thecore unit is removed and having open mouthed portions projecting intothe void adapted to receive a bridge means and a filling for closing thetop of the joint.

9. A concrete road joint formed between concrete slabs having a voidtherebetween, said joint comprising in combination a means for closingthe bottom of the void, chambered members carried by the concrete slabsand including apertured open mouthed portions projecting into the void,bridge means spanning the void and having apertured portions projectinginto open mouthed portions of the chambered members, and an expansibleand contractible filling supported on the bridge means to close theupper portion of the void and fill the chambered members and theapertures in the apertured portions of the chambered members and thebridge means to lock the chambered members, the bridge means and thefilling together. a

, 10. A road joint filler bridge. unit for use in connecting twospacedconcrete sections, said unit comprising in combination a pair ofchambered socket members partially imbedded in the oppo-' site sectionsof concrete and including open mouthed portions projecting into thespace between the concrete sections, of an adjustable bridge unit,between the concrete sections and projecting into the open mouthedportions of the chambered socket members, and a. lock of bituminousmaterial supported on the bridge unit "and filling the chambered'sooketmembers and interlocking the bridge unitwith said chambered socketmembers.

11. A road joint filler bridge unit for use in connecting two spacedconcrete sections, said unit comprising in combination oppositelypositioned chambered socket members partially imbedded in the spaced,concrete sections and including open mouthed portions projecting intothe space between the sections, an arched bridge member spanning thespace between the sections and projecting into the open mouthed portionsof the chambered socket members, and an asphaltlock supported on thebridge member and filling the chambered socket members and embedding theends of said bridge member.

12. A road joint filler bridge unit connecting two spaced concrete roadsections and comprising in combination a pair of chambered socketmembers partially imbedded in the spaced con-. crete road sections,lower supporting flanges integrally formed on the chambered socketmembers and projecting into the space between the road sections,apertured upper flanges integrally formed on the chambered socketmembers and projecting into the space between the road sections, anadjustable bridge means having apertured margins which project into thechambered socket members between the lower supporting flanges and theapertured upper flanges, and a filling or contractible and expansiblematerial filling the space between the sections above the bridge meansand filling the apertures in the upperflange members and in theapertured margins of the bridge means to lock the bridge means and theapertured chambered members together.

13. A road joint flllerbridge unit connecting two spaced concrete roadsections and comprising in combination an adjustable bridge means forsupporting a filler between th'eroad sections, and a plurality ofchambered supporting means for the bridge means partially imbedded inthe road sections and each comprising a channeled body section, aspring-like lower supporting flange and an apertured upper flange spacedtherefrom, said lower flange and upper flange forming an entrance mouthto the channeled body section for the reception of the bridge means.

14. A road joint flller bridge unit connecting two spaced concrete roadsections and comprising in combination a pair of oppositely positionedchambered sockets partially imbedded in the concrete road sections, openmouthed portions formed on the chambered sockets and projecting into thespace between the road sections, and an adjustable bridge memberconstructed ofreinforced bituminous material spanning the space betweenthe road sections and projecting into the open mouthed portions of thechambered sockets.

15. A road joint flller bridge unit connecting two spaced concrete roadsections and comprising in combination a pair of chambered socketspositioned opposite one another and partially imbedded in the spacedconcrete road sections,

mouth portions formed on the sockets and projecting into the spacebetween the road sections, and an adjustable bridge means spanning thespace between the sections and projecting into the mouth portions of thesockets, said bridge means comprising an arched strip of reinforcedbituminous material and'a metal cap engaged over the bight portion 01'the arched strip" and engaged 2 Elle reinforced portion or thebituminous mari a 16. A road joint flller bridge unit comprising incombination a pair oi oppositely positioned channel strips, lowersupporting flanges integrally formed thereon and deflected upwardlytowards one another, apertured upper flanges formed on the channelstrips and projecting inwardly towards one another and positioned abovethe lower supporting flanges to coact therewith to form entrance mouthsto the channel strips, an arched bridge member between the channelstrips, apertured marginal portions formed on the arched bridge memberand projecting into the channel ,strips, and an expansible andcontractible looking means filling the channel strips and the aperturesin the apertured marginal portions or the bridge member and theapertures in the upper flanges of the channel strips to lock the channelstrips and the bridge member together.

17. In a road joint forming mechanism the combination with a pair ofbase units aligned with one another, a pair or core units removably supported on the base units, crack spanning members positioned to span thespace between the adjacent ends of the aligned base members and coreunits, and means engaged over and spanning the space between theadjacent ends of the core units and engaging the crack spanning membersto hold the same in position.

18. In a road joint forming mechanism the combination with a pluralityof aligned base members, load transmission anchoring units engaged inthe base members, a plurality or void forming core units aligned withone another and supported on the base members, and closure means forclosing the spaces between the adjacent ends of the base members and thecore units.

19. In a road joint forming mechanism the combination with a pluralityoi! aligned base members, of load transmission anchoring units engagedin the base members, a plurality oi! void forming core units alignedwith one another and supported on the base members, closure means forclosing the spaces between the adjacent ends of the base members and thecore units, and adjustable closure means for closing the outer ends ofthe core units.

20. A concrete construction joint filler bridge unit for connectingspaced concrete sections and comprising in combination chambered meansimbedded in the spaced concrete sections, bridge means between theconcrete sections supported by the chambered means, and means fillingthe chambered means and embedding the ends of the bridge means forlocking the bridge means with said chambered means.

ROBERT R. ROBERTSON.

